Buckle



April 18, 1944. J,.J. SINDLER BUCKLE Filed April 29,' 1945 Patented Apr. 18, 1944 UNITED ST''iS iFTNT OFFICE 2,346,949

BUCKLE Jay J. sinaler, Boston, Mass.

1943, serial No. 485,031

(o1. :a4-18s) Application April 29,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to buckles of the type used on shoes, wearing apparel and the like personal effects, and its principal object is to provide a buckle which is of simple design and of attractive appearance, which is of an all-plastic construction and which can be economically manufactured in large quantities.

Further objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a buckle constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe tongue prior to being slotted for assembly with the crossbar of the buckle;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the buckle frame;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the assembled frame and tongue; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and sectional views illustrating the manner in which the buckle is attached to an article such as a shoe upper or the like.

The embodiment chosen for illustration comprises a frame member` l and a tongue 2, each part being separately moulded from a suitable resilient thermoplastic composition such as cellulose acetate or the like plastic material having the requisite degree of strength, toughness and resiliency. The frame member I is formed with a centrally disposed transversely extending crossbar 4 integral with the sides of the frame and formed with a cylindrical portion 5 and circumferentially extending grooves B and 'I on each side of the cylindrical portion, as shown in Fig. 3.

The tongue 2 is formed with an enlarged rounded end which tapers toward its opposite or free end, as shown in Fig. 2, and the enlarged end is provided with a cylindrical Opening I of approximately the same diameter as the cylindrical portion of the frame I. The opening I 0 may be formed during or subsequent to the moulding operation, but in either case the enlarged end is provided with a slot II which nares outwardly, the Width of the inner end of the slot being of substantiallx7 less diameter than that of the opening I0 and the width of its outer end being approximately the same as or greater than the diameter of the opening I0, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The parts are assembled by applying the slotted portion of the tongue to the cylindrical part 5 of the frame, and, due to the inherent resiliency of the thermoplastic material from which the parts are made, the tongue may be snapped in place about and pivotally supported by the crossbar, as shown in Fig. 4. When thus assembled, the tongue is permanently secured in place and in the ordinary course of use there is no likelihood of the parts becoming accidentally disengaged.

The buckle thus produced may be readily applied to a shoe upper section, an article of wearing apparel, or any other type of personal effects, designated by the numeral I5 of Figs. 5 and 6, and to this end, staples or stitching I6 may be passed through the material I5 and about the grooves 6 and 1 of the crossbar, thereby securing the buckle in place. A strap I8 may then be assembled with the attached buckle, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

While I have shown and described different desirable embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as Well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A buckle composed entirely of resilient thermoplastic material and consisting of a closed frame member having a centrally disposed crossbar formed with a portion of generally cylindrical shape, and a tongue having an enlarged end which tapers toward its opposite end, said enlarged end being formed with a cylindrical opening of approximately the same diameter as the cylindrical portion of said crossbar, which opening communicates with a radially extending slot having a width less than the diameter of said opening, the enlarged end of said tongue fitting about and being pivotally supported by the cylindrical portion of said crossbar with its tapered end engageable with the opposite ends of said frame.

2. A buckle composed entirely of resilient thermoplastic material and consisting of a closed frame member having a centrally disposed crossbar formed With a portion of generally cylindrical shape and circumferentially extending grooved portions on each side of the cylindrical portion for the reception of attaching means, and a tongue having an enlarged end which tapers toward its opposite end, said enlarged end being formed with a cylindrical opening of approximately the same diameter as the cylindrical portion of said crossbar, which opening communicates with a radially extending slot having a width less than the diameter of said opening, the enlarged end of said tongue iitting about and being pivotally supported by the cylindrical portion of said crossbar with its tapered end engageable with the opposite ends of said frame.

3. A buckle composed entirely of resilient cellulose acetate and consisting of a closed frame member having a centrally disposed crossbar formed with a portion of generally cylindrical shape and eircumferentially extending grooved portions on each side of the cylindrical portion for the reception of attaching means, anda.. V tongue having an enlarged end which tapers; 

